Sussex Horse Rescue Trust saves horses after owner dies

AN UCKFIELD-based animal charity stepped in to save two horses after the tragic death of their owners.

Police were called by ambulance colleagues after a 66-year-old man was found lying in a field in Mile Oak Road by the A27 just after 2pm on January 23.

A police spokesman said: “We are not treating his death as suspicious and early indications are he may have collapsed and died trying to free his horse entangled in barbed wire. The horse was freed and is uninjured.”

The man was identified as John Chesher of Old Shoreham Road, Southwick.

Shortly after the incident Pauline Grant of Sussex Horse Rescue received a telephone call from John Chesher’s daughter in law, Natasha Chesher.

She pleaded with Pauline to take two of her father-in-law’s horses into her care saying: “These horses have got to go.”

When Pauline asked why she could not care for them herself she said she was pregnant and lived a distance away, near Horsham.

Pauline’s son, Daniel took the Horse Rescue horsebox and picked up the two animals on the same day.

One is a 12.2hh, 11-year-old Welsh gelding and the other is a 14.2hh, nine-year-old New Forest/Hackney mare.

The horse that was rescued remains at Southwick where Pauline believes it is being looked after by John Chesher’s widow.

Pauline said: “When we take horses on it’s really important that people who pass them on to us have the legal right to do so. We checked this one out and we are happy all seems in order.”

Sussex Horse Rescue now have 104 equines in their care, a figure which has risen from the original 75.

The Centre urgently needs winter helpers.

Pauline explained: “People like working here in the summer but it’s harder to find help in the cold weather.

“We’d be thrilled to hear from anyone who has a bit of time to spare – it need only be a few hours.”

They are also grateful for donations of tack, rugs and feed. To help, ring her on: 01825 762010